“Yes,” Meg said. “One can always depend upon my grandmother’s and the duchess’s assistance. They made it possible for Hawksworth and me to marry as well. For you, we studied all the information available to us and came up with a very short list of gentlemen your father was likely to approach concerning your marriage.”
Thalia was surprised they had taken so much time on her behalf.
Berwick took up the story. “I have a piece of property that marches along the boundary of a Somerset property in York. Many know that it is unentailed, but most do not know that it was my late wife’s dower property and, according to her wishes, it will go to the grandchild who needs it the most.” His tone became gruff with emotion. “I will not part with it under any other circumstances.”
He took a sip of wine. “Before Somerset approached me, the Duchess of Bridgewater wrote me informing me that if he offered you in marriage, I was to write to Lady Hawksworth.”
The corners of Giles’s lips tilted up, and he squeezed Thalia’s hand. “At some point, you contacted Hull. His duchess was either already planning a house party, or decided to hold a house party to which I would be invited.”
“Yes.” Laia spoke up. “We wanted to make sure that you were the right one for our sister. If you had grown close to one of the ladies at the house party, we would have known that you were not the right gentleman.”
“Her Grace of Hull was happy to help,” Euphrosyne said. “She and her husband sheltered Markville and me after our marriage.”
“There is no love lost between Hull and Somerset,” Markville added.
“Yes, yes,” Berwick said. “And time was of the essence. I had no doubt Somerset would browbeat Thalia into accepting someone — me if I offered first.”
“And if you did not offer . . .” The heat left Giles’s hand. “What would have happened?”
Hawksworth scowled. “The other choice was so bad that I would have sent Thalia to Frank and Jenny rather than allow her to marry him.”
Giles’s eyes widened. “In America?”
Her brother gave one short nod. “Yes.”
Thalia took a deep breath. He was talking about what would have happened, not what was going to occur. “But now that Kendal and I have decided we wish to wed, how do we go about doing it?”
Kendal’s brow rose in a dukely manner. “Naturally, I shall approach your father and give him what he wants to allow your marriage to me.”
“No?” Giles’s tone was soft, but almost dangerous.
“Allow me to explain.” Markville drained his glass. “I did that, and I would not wish what happened to us on anyone. Somerset betrothed Euphrosyne to Ross.”
“Not the current duke?” Giles asked with surprise.
“No, the one who died last year. Full of the French pox and an opium eater,” Thalia said. Laia had told Thalia about the man.
“She was carrying our child, and the cur would still not allow our marriage,” Markville said.
Kendal dragged a hand down his face. “Good Lord.”
“The sad fact of the matter,” Bolton said, “is that the man cares nothing about his children. His sole purpose is to marry them to anyone who can increase the wealth of the dukedom, and, to him, that means acquiring more land adjacent to his own.”
“Exactly,” Meg agreed. “Whatever we decide must be kept among those of us here.”
Suddenly, the stories Kendal had heard began to make sense. “That is the reason none of you were invited to any of the events at Hull.”
Thalia’s aunt nodded. “We needed to keep our presence here as quiet as possible.” She gave a wry grin. “Fortunately, we have no single young gentlemen with us who must be entertained.”
“Thalia said you were normally in Wiltshire,” Kendal remarked. All this had been extremely well coordinated and planned. “If I continue to travel back and forth from Hull, someone is bound to notice.” Probably the young ladies at the Duchess of Hull’s house party.
“If you do not mind terribly”—Lady Hawksworth’s tone was apologetic, but it also conveyed determination—“we had planned to keep you here with us.”
“How will I explain my absence?” All his clothes and his servants were at Hull.
“There is no problem about that.” The duchess gave him a too-innocent look. “Once Millie and I saw which way the wind was blowing, and if you agreed to remain here, she would tell the rest of her party that you were called away to attend to a dire problem on one of your estates. I expect your servants and belongings will be here shortly.”
He must have been looking as if he didn’t agree, for Berwick said, “It’s the best way to do this, my boy.”
Thalia had a worried look in her beautiful eyes. “If you do not wish to remain—”
“Of course I do. I am just not used to matters being taken out of my hands.” Even though his marriage had been disastrous, honoring his father’s plan had been his decision. It was the only time he and Berwick had truly argued. “What do we do now?”
